Atlanta Hawks: Avery Johnson says he’s agreed to coach Nets
Johnson headed to Nets, not Hawks.
One coaching candidate down for the Hawks, three still in the mix.
The Associated Press reported that Avery Johnson says he’s agreed to coach the Nets. Johnson told the AP the team is expected to announce the news on Thursday.
Johnson was among four candidates the Hawks have been considering as the replacement for Mike Woodson. With Johnson apparently out of the running, general manager Rick Sund and Atlanta’s ownership group now will choose from among Dwane Casey, Larry Drew and Mark Jackson.
Casey is a Dallas assistant coach and former head coach in Minnesota. Drew was an assistant under Woodson, who was let go after six seasons. Jackson, a television broadcaster, hasn’t been a coach at any level but was a long-time NBA point guard.
A person with knowledge of the process said Hawks management is still considering all three candidates and will make a decision soon. The Hawks, Cavaliers and Clippers are the only teams yet to name a head coach.
MC
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309 comments Add your comment
N.D.T. K. A.
June 10th, 2010
10:35 pm
To answer your question just about any coach is better than Woody because the team stop listening to and quit on him. He could have won 65 games and been a number one seed in the east, Woody still would need to be replaced. That is the criterion for the next coach: Can you motivate the team to leave everything they have on the floor in the playoffs? Can you run an offensive scheme or sets to maximize player potential? Can you control young emotional players and have their respect? Can you develop young talent and get your team to play defense and keep intensity? DMB, the reason coach Mark Cuban let AJ go is because coach Mark has billions of dollars. It is his team and he knows more about baskeball than Avery Johnson, who is Avery Johnson, what has he done, what right does Avery have to make Cuban’s son Dirk play defense or post-up someone. Everybody has a coach story. All I go on is what I have seen with my own eyes. Dirk Nowitzki was not soft in the playoffs the year Dallas went to the finals, Dirk looked like, Barkley, or K. Malone, or McHale. And what has coach Mark Cuban gotten for his troubles, Coach Cuban’s team has not sniffed the Finals since. Once again all Hawk’s fans please don’t settle for mediocrity and being average. Demand a winner! Whether or not that is Dwane Casey remains to be seen. Sincerely, Dr.MaryB. I am still Not Drinking the Kool – Aid (N.D.T.K.A)
N.D.T. K. A.
June 10th, 2010
10:43 pm
Also, I really do understand why Avery took the Nets job. I think Avery really liked the Hawks roster although it may not have been as flexible as the Nets. Let’s see: Prokorov > ASG, Rod Thorn > Rick Sund, top draft picks/a true center/familiar point guard/lebron sweepstakes/Jay-Z/Gazillion dollars/no pressure > not so good draft picks/no true center/JJ resigning up in the air/no lebron sweepstakes/no true point guard ready/not much cap space/plenty of pressure = Nets. Math makes sense!
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
11:11 pm
Big -Baby!
Look at Big-Mamba! “Mean -Mugging” spit hanging from his mouth! LOL!
This is the REALIST basketball being played tonight !!!!!!!!
Why can’t we do that!
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
11:39 pm
Grand-Daddy
I accepted his apology on my way home from the Ace Hardware store. Go back and check it!
There was nothing to forgive though, cdog didn’t do anything to hurt my feelings!
I am not that emotional – just having fun & keepin’ it real – light hearted!
drmaryb
June 10th, 2010
11:43 pm
Grand-Daddy
See my post at 244 PM today.
ddd-house
June 10th, 2010
11:57 pm
have they thought about asking Jeff” Van Gundy, how about mo cheeks who is still out there
drmaryb
June 11th, 2010
12:12 am
ddd-house
I believe JV-Gundy said he has no interest in coaching at present. I think he is enjoying watching his
Brother doing the high-stress job thing.
I like Cheeks too. Where is he? He has become invisible in the NBA.
At any rate, the interviews are over & we have our short list of three.
Why do you focus so much on the coach? This is a PLAYERS league.
No coach will WIN anything here until Sund fixes this very flawed roster, we need to focus on the players, namely getting JOE re-signed!
Charles Barkley summed it up best, “You can NOT win in this league without PLAYERS.”
Coaches don’t rebound, defend nor shoot the ball.
A great COACH is: a communicator, game planner and motivator. It is not about X’s & O’s,
When the game is heated..you just play basketball! Notice Doc’s huddles – its all philosophical and ideals in his huddles, he never draws up any plays whatsoever. You prepare in practice not games!
G-nite dear. -smile- it’s ok we will get a good coach from these three. Our biggest problem is will Joe stay? And who will we draft at #24?
Michael Cunningham
June 11th, 2010
12:23 am
@drmaryb: “Why do you focus so much on the coach? This is a PLAYERS league. No coach will WIN anything here until Sund fixes this very flawed roster”
true story . . .
drmaryb
June 11th, 2010
12:43 am
MC
Thanks man. I like all three of these coach prospects for very different reasons.
I do not envy Sund & ASG at all. With Mr. Woodson gone, now the real culprits are fully exposed.
We can ALL see the man behind the curtains and his knees are wobbling and his brows are sweating and his spectacles are dis-sheveled diagonally across the bridge of his nose!
WWSD
I went to Church tonight and prayed for Sund to have discernment and do the right thing!
The ball is literally in his court now! I hope the prospects can put their EGO’s aside and come together. I wish, we could hire ALL three! Like – Team Ford? We could call them – Team Atlanta!
Casey HC, Drew Top Assistant or Vice-Versa & let Mark put in the offensive game plans!
Let’s Go!